"In eight days?"

"And eight nights."

"But my good friend, only to get the marble--"

"Who thinks of marble? Papias will make us one of straw, rags and
gypsum--I know his magic hand--and in order that the others may not be
too unlike their new-born sister they shall be whitewashed."

"Capital--but why choose Papias when we have Harmodius?"

"Harmodius takes art in earnest, and we should have the Emperor here
before he had completed his sketches. Papias works with thirty
assistants at anything that is ordered of him, so long as it brings him
money. His last things certainly amaze me, particularly the Hygyeia for
Dositheus the Jew, and the bust of Plutarch put up in the Caesareum.
they are full of grace and power. But who can distinguish what is his
work and what that of his scholars? Enough, he knows how things should
be done; and if a good sum is to be got by it he will hew you out a whole
sea-fight in marble in five days."

"Then give Papias the commission but the hapless mutilated pavements-
what will you do with them?"

"Gypsum and paint must mend them," said Pontius, "and where that will not
do, we must lay carpets on the floor in the Eastern fashion. Merciful
night! how dark it is growing; give me the plan Keraunus and provide us
with torches and lamps for to-day, and the next following ones must have